Ok. I've tried to remain positive, but after todays results we are 9 points above relegation, and 9 points away from the play offs if you want to be optimistic. On our form I'd start been worried. Mike Dodds has no idea. I think he has been boss for 7 or 8 games, over 3 stints, and won 2, and lost the others. We are no longer favourites with Sky for live TV because of the dour football we continue to play, which should be a concern for the owners as that is extra revenue lost. Why did we buy all these fast players when we are so slow in our build up, side ways and backwards passing! Todays performance was woeful. We could have played 3hrs more with only 5 men in their team and we'd still struggle. Hemir looks promising but is not ready to start, that should be Rusyn. Jobe and Ekwah should be no where near our first 11, and should be on the bench. If we think we are safe, especially with Leicester, Southampton, Leeds and West Brom at least still to come, then we are deluded.
1/10 **** match thread -you're sacked If you go into Thread tools you can edit title and remove the match thread option
Lol. Ok we'll win our remaining games, play sparkling football. Sky will be all over us again, and we MAY reach the playoffs. I think my doubts are more realistic. Sorry @RTB I rate your posts but I think we'll finish in the bottom half. This team, under Dodds is going backwards, and fast. I think we need a new manager in sooner rather than later, but I have no one in mind
Definitely worth starting a new thread, especially with so much new information. We're all realistic ....
We have been bad recently, but I think we’ll be okay. But this summer is the mother of all pre-seasons we need to have a manager installed and up and running and any business done ASAP. From scintillating football to this, it’s not good. I’m prepared (in my head) to right off the remainder of 23/24 season. But we must correct with these issues with a real urgency.
The worst thing that happened to us last year was finishing 6th. It massively over inflated expectations.
I'm a very realistic person. I try to be in all walks of life. I'd like to think the ownership have a plan going into next season whomever that may be. Our main asset is Clarke who will more than likely be out the door. Now judging on the past several transfer windows, no signing has pulled up any trees. If we don't get it correct in the summer, I feel we will struggle and be looking down over more than up. Clarke reminds me of an episode of the Fresh Prince where Will joins Carltons basketball team, the tactics.... Pass it to Will. Now I'm not being negative here, like I said above, more realistic. Because as it stands, next season isn't looking too clever. The owners can come out and spout on about models and plans,these are buzz words, they mean absolutely nothing to the average fan unless we see results. Our investment is in the football team, not the finances. KLD pulled a fan up at a talk in about accusing him of taking money out via transfers about all he had invested, investment means you expect money back and he is well within his rights to take it back. So we may not have millions to throw about and I'm fine with that, but I hope whomever is at the wheel have a genuine plan and not flying by the seat of their pants, by that I mean sacking managers and expecting new "Coaches" to come alone and work with a backroom that they don't know and have failed managers in the past, or sack one after 12 games and give it to Dodds.... again shows panic imo. Like I said, I'm not moaning or having a go, it's just as I see it. Been a few mistakes made so far everyone makes them. The unclear ownership of shares while Madcocks were here, or the black Cats bar stuff, or the appointment of Beale. Our fan base are forgiving one most of the time but theres nothing wrong with debates and disagreements and it's OK to question the club, it doesn't make you less of a supporter. Anyway, that's my view on it all.
Next season imo.. Sartori out Davison out Speakman out Dodds out Proctor out Dan Neil out Jack Clarke out Patto out. Ballard if we get a £15m offer.
Don't think it's a reality check in terms of the squad has turned out to be ****e, it's that it's been too long without a coach who knows what he's doing. Injuries have ****ed us too. Quality coach with these players and we'd be doing well and in and around the playoffs.
Last season we played some of the best football I've ever seen us play. It was like liquid football at times, fast, free-flowing, attacking football. Throw into the mix some outstanding team and individual goals....it really was scintillating stuff. I would have been happy (i say "happy" loosely) to have finished 7th or 8th. Millwall were 2 nil up home to Blackburn remember....if they had won that we wouldn't have been in the play offs. It would have been a disappointment, aye, course it would. But for me it wasnt the finishing 6th, it was the football we played to get there. If we'd finished 7th or 8th I still would have said we've had a cracking season. I think after last season there was more expectation this season, and maybe rightly so, and tbh, I was thinking 6th or 7th. The drop off in performances is my biggest concern, it just hasn't been there this season. Its like the complete opposite of last season. Slow, ponderous build up play, hardly any goal threat, lack of intensity....just not a good watch. If this seasons play was last season...stay up, consolidate after seasons in league 1...it would be seen as job done, now to kick on. Then last season was this season: kicked on, and made bloody good progress....job done. I don't think we'll be seeing an exciting end to the season, more of a limping over the finish line now. Maybe finish somewhere between 8th and 12th? It might not be what the season we hoped for (after last season), but I would have snapped someone's hands off if it was offered two seasons ago. If you've read all this, we'll done. That's my ramble over with.
So far we've seen the solid investment and strong decision making in the 21/22 League One promotion season vanish. Decisions that look, for want of a better phrase, tight as a gnat's chuff Older heads like Gooch, Pritchard, Batth, Stewart (great price mind) jettisoned and not replaced. Mowbray's vast experience, pedigree and popularity replaced by the inexperienced, questionable and deeply unpopular Beale. A huge influx of very young players of unknown quality and no championship experience, giving the first team squad one of the lowest average ages in history. All the while staying within the gravitational pull of the EFL Championship, one of, if not the, most expensive leagues in world football to compete in. It looks increasingly likely that SAFC is cashing in on its most successful players, as stated by the owners from the beginning. What happens to the money raised will throw more light on where the club's going under KLD and KS. The jury's out so far.
